Opening of DAAD Centre of Excellence in South Africa With Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tutu

BONN, Germany - Training for African Executives in Development Research and Criminal
Justice

On the occasion of the opening ceremony of the South African-German
Centre of Excellence for Development Research and Criminal Justice, due to
take place in Cape Town on April 2, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Bishop Desmond
Tutu will hold a ceremonial speech as the guest of honour. The centre is one
of five centres of excellence which the German Academic Exchange Service
(DAAD) is setting up with the financial backing of Germany’s Federal Foreign
Office within the scope of its “Aktion Afrika” (Africa campaign). The centres
of excellence in Ghana, Tanzania, Congo, Namibia, and South Africa are
intended to enable budding executives to attend African universities at
international level, preparing them for their tasks in, and serving, Africa.

The centre of excellence at the University of the Western Cape
in Cape Town will offer a Masters degree and a Ph.D. in the departments
Development Research and Criminal Justice respectively. These courses will be
conducted in cooperation with the Faculty of Law of the Humboldt University
of Berlin and the Institute for Development Research and Development Policy
of the Ruhr University of Bochum. Both courses of study have a particular
relevance for the African continent. Graduates of the department for
Development Research are to learn how to master the region’s economic,
social, and political challenges arising within the development process.

The course of studies in Criminal Justice is just as
important. A functioning criminal justice system is indispensable for the
development of African countries when dealing with white-collar crime or
coming to terms with past injustices. In this connection, the ceremonial
speech to be given by Desmond Tutu, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for his
peaceful opposition against the apartheid regime in 1984, gains particular
significance. In addition to Bishop Tutu, South African and German
representatives from the education and research communities will also speak
at the opening ceremony.

The linking of development policy issues and legal topics in
the centre of excellence provides important joint research opportunities. In
addition, networking with the other four centres of excellence is intended to
provide synergy effects. Regular meetings between the representatives of all
centres will enable an exchange of experience and a scientific discussion of
common topics. In addition to Law and Development Research, the other centres
of excellence are focused on Health Sciences, Micro-Financing, and Logistics.
More detailed information is available at:
www.daad.de/fachzentren-afrika/de/index.html.

Contact:
Barbara Muck, Head of section for African Centres of Excellence and
Special Projects,
Tel: +49-228-882-746, Mobile: +49-160-89-80-730,
e-mail: fachzentren@daad.de

Dr. Dorothee Weyler, DAAD, Project Manager for African Centres of
Excellence,
Tel: +49-228-882-115,
e-mail: fachzentren@daad.de

Source: DAAD

Contact: Barbara Muck, Head of section for African Centres of Excellence and Special Projects, Tel: +49-228-882-746, Mobile: +49-160-89-80-730, e-mail: fachzentren at daad.de; Dr. Dorothee Weyler, DAAD, Project Manager for African Centres of Excellence, Tel: +49-228-882-115, e-mail: fachzentren at daad.de